Kensington Palace has announced that Duchess Kate Middleton and Prince William, both 35, will be going on a Royal Tour of Sweden and Norway from 30 January through 2 February next year.
By then the Duchess will be well into her pregnancy with the couple’s third child, expecting to give birth in April. The statement from the palace reads as follows: “The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will undertake an official visit to Norway and Sweden at the request of the FCO in early 2018.”
The exact dates have not yet been confirmed, but the royals were asked to undertake the Scandinavian visit on behalf of the Foreign Office, apparently in an attempt to strengthen the relations with other European countries, as the UK makes preparations to leave the EU.
This will be the couple’s first foreign royal tour since the announcement of Kate’s third pregnancy. The British royals enjoy strong ties with the Norwegian and Swedish royal families, but It is not yet confirmed whether Prince George and Princess Charlotte will join their parents on the royal tour.
Read also: Pomp and Curcumstance in Norway
King Harald V of Norway and Elizabeth II are second cousins and the Queen’s first ever state visit was to Norway in June 1955. The Windsors also have a close relationship with the Swedish royals through their shared ancestor Queen Victoria.
The pair’s last official royal tour was in July, when they visited Germany and Poland with their children.
The royals are also planning to attend the May 2018 wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Royal Tour from Britain to Scandinavia Early Next Year, written by Admin